NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title: Introduction to Database

Course prefix, number, and section number: ITSW 1307 Section 0310

Semester/Year of course: Fall/2025

Semester start and end dates: 8/25/2025 -12/13/2025

Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid): Asynchronous Online

Class meeting location, days, and times: Online

Lab meeting location, days, and times: Online

Semester credit hours: 3

Course description: Introduction to database theory and the practical applications of a database.

Course prerequisites: None

Required course materials:

1. McGraw-Hill SIMNet.

1. McGraw-Hill SIMnet is required to complete the course and must be purchased separately from your tuition payment. You can purchase SIMnet through the NCTC bookstore or you can purchase it directly from McGraw-Hill the first time you login to SIMnet.
2. When you click on the SIMnet link in Canvas you should be given the option to activate a 14-day courtesy access, or you can purchase a registration code or add a registration code.
3. You can activate for 14 days, but at the end of 14-day period your access to SIMnet will be cut off.
4. If you purchased a registration code from the bookstore when you enrolled, you can add the registration code by clicking on the Purchase or add a registration code button. See below:

5. If you need to purchase a registration code, I highly recommend that you buy it directly from McGraw-Hill. When you click on the Purchase or add a registration code button, you can purchase the code directly from McGraw-Hill. You will need a credit card, and the cost will be $75.00.
6. You can buy a registration code from the NCTC bookstore, but you will have to contact the bookstore directly.
7. SIMnet content consists of:

1. 1. The eBook - A Skills Approach - Access 365/2021 - Manning, Swinson
   2. Quizzes and Tests
   3. Simulations
   4. Projects
2. You must have Microsoft Access to complete the SIMnet Projects, Reference Project, and Final Project. If you don’t have Microsoft Access at home, you can get a version by sending the instructor an email indicating that you would like a copy. After receiving the request, you will be contacted with the instructions for downloading a copy of Microsoft Access.
   1. The latest version of Access is 2024 but previous versions can be used. (The SIMnet material is based on Access 2021. Do not use a version older than Access 2013.)
3. If you have a MAC, you CANNOT run Microsoft Access on your computer. You must use a PC. If you do not have a PC, your alternatives are to borrow one, buy one, or use the PCs at NCTC.

Name of instructor: Dr. Doug Keenan

Office location: Online

E-mail address: dkeenan@nctc.edu

Office hours for students: There are no instructor office hours scheduled for this course. All communication will take place through the NCTC email system.

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER

The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in using the NCTC email system.

SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

List of graded assignments:

Final grade scale:

<60% = F, 60%-69%=D, 70%-79%=C, 80%-89%=B, >89%=A

Late work policy:

There is no extra credit available. Your grade will be based on the elements listed above.  There are no makeup assignments.  If you miss an exam for a documented approved medical reason, you will be allowed to take the exam.

SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.

COURSE POLICIES

Academic Integrity Policy:

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:

1) The student will receive a failing grade of zero "0" on the assignment. If the assignment is within a group in which the lowest assignment is dropped, the assignment will not be able to count as a dropped score. It will count as part of the grade.

2) A "Scholastic Dishonesty Report Form" will be submitted regarding the incident

3) Student may be dropped from the course with a failing grade (letter grade of “F”)

Artificial Intelligence Policy:

Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs such as Chat GPT and Microsoft Pilot cannot be used to complete assignments.

Attendance Policy:

This is a 100% online course. Attendance will be determined by number of logins into Canvas and assignment completions.

Withdrawal Policy

A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.

Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is November 3^rd, 2025.

Student Learning Outcomes: At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. Identify And Differentiate the Application of Relational and Non-Relational Databases.
2. Identify Database Terminology and Concepts.
3. Plan, Define, And Design a Database
4. Design and Generate Tables, Forms, and Reports
5. Devise and Process Queries.

Core Objectives:

1. Critical Thinking
2. Communication
3. Empirical and Quantitative
4. Teamwork

COLLEGE POLICIES

ADA STATEMENT

NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodations.

AI STATEMENT

Absent a clear statement from a course instructor, use of or consultation with generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or other similar technologies shall be treated analogously to assistance from another person, agency, or entity. Using generative AI tools to substantially complete an assignment or exam is not permitted. Students should acknowledge the use of generative AI (other than incidental use) and default to disclosing such assistance when in doubt.

When students use generative AI to replace the rigorous demands of personal engagement with their coursework, it runs counter to the educational mission of the college and undermines the heart of education itself. Artificial Intelligence, large language models, and other such technologies hold promise for deploying knowledge in service to others and accelerating the discovery of new knowledge. However, such technology poses new challenges to pedagogy and to integrity. Within the context of the teaching mission of the college and consistent with the Student Code of Conduct, the authority to define the appropriate use, study, and deployment of these technologies rests with the faculty.

Individual course instructors, in coordination with their divisions, set policies regulating the use of generative AI tools in their courses, including allowing or disallowing some or all uses of such tools. Course instructors will set such policies in their course syllabi and clearly communicate such policies to students. Students who are unsure of policies regarding generative AI tools are encouraged to ask their instructors for clarification.

Pregnant and Parenting Students

Any student who, because of their pregnancy or parenting status, may require special accommodations to meet course requirements should contact the Student Parent Liaison (studentparents@nctc.edu). Students may also self-report by visiting www.nctc.edu/cares and submitting a report for Pregnant & Parenting Students.

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.

STUDENT SERVICES

NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students.  See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS